Penkridge to Great Haywood

Started the engine early, so we could make some bread. Got completely soaked and very cold during the morning. Shower to warm up, and lunch at Bridge 96.

11 miles, 7 locks, 7.5 hours engine

Bridge 8 to Penkridge

Wonderful sunny day. Not a lot of traffic till we hit Penkridge. Tied up above Filance lock.

13.5 miles, 6 locks, 5.5 hours

Stayed put at Bridge 8

Wet and windy Bank Holiday. Did a load of database work. Ran the engine morning and evening.

0 miles, 0 locks, 3 hours engine

Gnosall to Brewood Bridge 8

Went and found Gnosall Methodist, and then had lunch on the mooring. Afternoon cruise in the sunshine. Only excitement was two hire boats coming through bridge 8, not realising how narrow the section is where they would have to pass us.

Tied up below Bridge 8 on the 48 hour moorings, where we had good reception of all sorts on the way up. Simon rang.

10 miles, 1 lock, 4 hours engine.

Anchor Inn to Gnosall

Went up and winded just before the Wharf Inn. Glorious sunny morning, in spite of the forecast. Stopped at Gnosall to get some cheese, and got soaked in a cloudburst while coming back from the shop. Decided to stop over, since the weather was now looking horrible, but moved round to the visitor moorings between the bridges. Unexpectedly got good signals for both TV and Three.

7 miles, 0 locks, 3.5 hours engine

Norbury Junction to the Anchor Inn

At Norbury:
a) filled up with diesel: 234.7 litres. That went from 14 cm to 56 cm on the stick.
b) filled up with water.

Stopped for a walk at Loynton Moss. Then pushed on up to see the two isolated pubs. Raining, so we moored up overnight at the Anchor, where there has been a reasonable Three signal.

2.5 miles, 0 locks, 1.5 hours engine overall.

Brewood to Norbury Junction

Actually started from Bridge 8 on the Shroppie. The BW toilets at Wheaton Aston are still out of order. Found the farm shop outlet attached to the pub in WA, and also the Spar. The church was closed.

Went aground north of Gnosall, and only got off with some difficulty, and some help. Visitor moorings at Norbury Junction have good TV reception, but although the Three signal seemed fairly strong, there were some problems with the broadband.

Still 14 cm of diesel in the tank, so we made it!

12 miles, 1 lock, 6 hours engine

Gailey to Brewood

Moored up near Bridge 8, a bit before Brewood.

12 miles, 3 locks, 6 hours engine

Baswich to Gailey

Started out at 8.45. Long stop in Penkridge, including a visit to Jaspers. Set out again when the rain stopped. Some showers in the afternoon. Moored up just before Brick Kiln Lock.

9 miles, 9 locks, 7 hours engine

Great Haywood to Baswich

Pump-out a.m. Started late afternoon. Moored up just before Bridge 101 on the S&W.

4 miles, 1 lock, 2.5 hours engine

Alrewas to Great Haywood

Set out early from Alrewas to give time for avoiding the expected rain. Stopped in Fradley to look around. Bought a new mooring hook to replace one of those we left by mistake at Branston. Thought we would make it to Rugeley but pressed on and got all the way to Great Haywood. Got a bit wet but it didn't seem as bad as forecast.

Light on the Gazelle roof aerial is not on and the TV is not tuning any stations. Not sure of the problem.

15 miles, 10 locks, 9 hours engine time

Branston to Alrewas

Coping with ropes that had got wet, stupidly left both mooring hooks at the mooring. Quite a windy morning. Found a mooring spot right after Alrewas lock.

5 miles, 2 locks, 4 hours engine – left the engine running while the bread maker made bread.

Mercia marina to Branston

8 miles, 2 locks, 3.5 hours engine

Willington to Mercia Marina

Drifted into Willington village to moor up for the day, and attempt some internet work. Then on to the marina at 5.30, and tied up on a jetty near to engineering.

2 miles, 0 locks, 1.5 hours engine

Wychnor to Willington

Started reasonably early, but stopped for a walk at Branston Water Park. Decided to continue after lunch to avoid the rain promised for tomorrow

12 miles, 5 locks, 7 hours engine

Wolseley Bridge to Wychnor

Intended to moor up shortly beyond Fradley junction, but could not find a spot until after Wychnor. Wind quite problematic at some of the locks. Very long day, broken by grocery shopping in Rugeley and lunch just after Handsacre.

Engine intermittently making a slight whistling noise at some speeds.

12 miles, 9 locks, 7.5 hours

Great Haywood to Wolseley Bridge

Post collected, and everything apparently being in order with Erin Mae, we got under way at about 3, to get down to Wolseley Bridge for the night. Actually moored up a bit further on towards Rugeley. At the Bridge a CaRT maintenance butty had been cut free and was floating half way across the canal. Another boater was in the process of securing it again.

3 miles, 2 locks, 2 hours engine

Varnishing phase 1 finished

Today did the third coat of the exterior parts of the front door frame.